* The “embellishment” scandal has undoubtedly hurt Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, but to keep working through November it has to be tied to something bigger. This latest effort appears to be the beginning of that…

At the same time, the Giannoulias campaign is pushing on a new front: raising questions about Kirk using his military credentials to push the Iraq war.

The Giannoulias campaign plans to use several quotes from Kirk — found by the campaign in newspaper stories and a House speech — to construct a narrative that “when Congressman Kirk has a political objective, he will say anything to reach it,” Giangreco said.

An Oct. 27, 2002, Daily Herald story said that “Kirk said he has seen classified information that convinced him the resolution was needed.”

Two years later, in 2004, the Herald reported that Kirk “said he had seen ‘direct’ evidence that Hussein presented a threat.”

Kirk made his “moral certitude” speech as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in June 2003 — chaired at the time by a Republican — began a review of the “quantity and quality” of what the U.S. intelligence community knew about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Even when members of his own party called for an investigation, Giangreco said, “Congressman Kirk went back to the House floor to repeat the lie. He dug in his heels and repeated what was not true.”

The Giannoulias campaign has posted several videos in the past few days to bolster their case. Here’s the list…

* Kirk claimed he knew “with moral certitude” that there were WMDs in Iraq

* Congressman Kirk falsely claimed he commands the war room in the Pentagon

* Kirk “misremembered” receiving the Navy’s Officer of the Year award

* Kirk falsely claimed he was the Navy’s Intelligence Officer of the Year

* Congressman Kirk falsely claimed that he was shot at while flying over Iraq

* Congressman Kirk ridiculously claimed he could have stopped the war in Kosovo

* Congressman Kirk falsely claimed he was a nursery school and middle school teacher

* Congressman Kirk ridiculously claimed he is the reason every GOP vote against the stimulus

* As a US Senator, Congressman Kirk said he would lead the effort repeal the health care bill

Kirk is responding by touting his veteran’s record. The NRSC’s press release is far more blunt…

As failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) fails to capture momentum in the race for the U.S. Senate this November, he’s attempting to buoy his flawed candidacy by desperately questioning U.S. Representative Mark Kirk’s (R-IL) military expertise after Kirk honorably served in our nation’s military.

* Let’s look at some more videos, shall we? From the Quinn campaign…

* Democrats Endorse Forrest Claypool over Dem Candidate Joe Berrios…